The federal government offers various funding through bureaus and agencies to support manufacturers, including notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs), grants, loans, and tax credits.
USDA Rural Development Business Programs
Business Programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community-based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.
Department of Agriculture
Business & Industry Loan Guarantees
Business & Industry Loan Guarantees offer loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses.
USDA Rural Development Business Programs
Business Programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community-based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.
Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC)
Congress designates a portion of EDA’s annual Economic Adjustment Assistance (PDF) funding to support communities and regions that have been negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. “Coal economy” is a term that reflects the complete supply chain of coal-reliant industries.
Department of Education
Discretionary Grants, Student Loans or Grants, and Formula Grants
The Department of Education has funds available to help state education agencies, local education agencies, and other education stakeholders to support state and local efforts to improve student achievement, educational equity, and access to educational opportunities for all students.
Department of Energy
Industrial Training and Assessment Centers Implementation Grant
Small to medium-sized manufacturers that receive a qualified energy assessment can apply for grants of up to $300,000 anytime throughout the year; applications will be reviewed quarterly.
Department of Transportation
DOT Navigator
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Navigator is a new resource to help communities understand the best ways to apply for grants, and to plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services. The DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard helps communities identify discretionary grant opportunities that can aid in meeting their transportation infrastructure needs.
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Export-Import Bank (EXIM)
The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. Its mission is to support American job creation, prosperity, and security through exporting. We accomplish this by unlocking financing solutions for U.S. companies competing around the globe. We help level the playing field and fill gaps in private-sector financing. When private sector lenders are unable or unwilling to provide financing, EXIM fills in the gap for American businesses by equipping them with the financing tools necessary to compete for global sales. In doing so, the agency levels the playing field for U.S. goods and services going up against foreign competition in overseas markets, so that American companies can create more good-paying American jobs.
National Science Foundation
Advanced Manufacturing Seed Fund
NSF helps startups navigate the earliest stages of technology translation, investing roughly $200 million annually in approximately 400 startups. Each startup can receive up to $2 million to support translational research and development. From advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence to biological technologies to environmental technologies, we fund nearly all areas of technology.
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
With a focus on two-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. The ATE program involves partnerships between academic institutions (grades 7-12, IHEs), industry, and economic development agencies to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians. It is strongly recommended that projects be faculty-led and required that courses and programs are credit-bearing, although materials developed may also be used for incumbent worker education.
Engineering Design and Systems Engineering (EDSE)
The Engineering Design and Systems Engineering program supports fundamental research that advances design science and/or systems science through the creation of new knowledge about the design of engineered artifacts.
Operations Engineering Program
The Operations Engineering program supports fundamental research on advanced analytical methods for improving operations in complex decision-driven environments.
Future Manufacturing
The goal of Future Manufacturing is to support fundamental research, education, and training of a future workforce to overcome scientific, technological, educational, economic, and social barriers to catalyze new manufacturing capabilities that do not exist today. Future Manufacturing seeks inventive approaches to invigorate the manufacturing ecosystem and seed nascent future industries that can only be imagined today.
Small Business Administration
America's Seed Fund
Federal innovation, scientific achievement, and diverse entrepreneurship through small business innovation and research. Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding to develop your technology and chart a path toward commercialization. The federal government invests in your solution and gives you the freedom to run your business according to your vision.
7(a) Loan Program
The 7(a) loan program is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) primary business loan program for providing financial assistance to small businesses. The 7(a) Loan Program, SBA’s primary business loan program, provides loan guaranties to lenders that allow them to provide financial help for small businesses with special requirements.
504 Loan Program
The 504 loan program provides long-term, fixed rate financing for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation. 504 loans are available through Certified Development Companies (CDCs), the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) community-based nonprofit partners who promote economic development within their communities. CDCs are certified and regulated by SBA. The maximum loan amount for a 504 loan is $5.5 million.
Microloans Program
The microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000. SBA provides funds to specially designated intermediary lenders, nonprofit community-based organizations with experience in lending, management, and technical assistance. These intermediaries administer the Microloan program for eligible borrowers.
Lender Match
Get matched to potential lenders funding with competitive rates and fees. You can answer a few questions about your business in as little as five minutes, access a curated list of lenders who express interest in your loan, compare rates, terms, and fees, and submit loan applications and paperwork.
COVID-19 Relief Options
Get information on loan payments, program data and archived content for SBA’s COVID-era relief programs.
Investment Capital
Find an investor for your business from among more than 300 Small Business Investment Companies licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Disaster Assistance Loans
Explore the U.S. Small Business Administration's low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
Surety bonds
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees bid, performance, and payment surety bonds issued by certain surety companies.
Grants
Find out about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s limited small business grants for scientific research, community promotion of entrepreneurship, and exporting.